Strong links are formed in extreme conditions. I was drafted for 15 months in the German Military. You form strong links out of necessity sharing a tiny living space. Stronger than any links formed in the 17 years at that AAA gaming company here in France, albeit, there have been some strong links formed as well. Links that transcend religion, language or culture. A different kind of "tribal" link.
This story really shed some insight into what makes you, you. Enjoyed it a lot.
I played a game last year called Pentiment that was very much a strong link society. It took place in a Dutchy in Bavaria in the 16th century. But generally, abbeys in those days were very close knit.
This is less of a happy one, but something that comes to mind are support groups and/or trauma-bonded communities (particularly if the groups are static and don’t have a lot of turnover or comings and goings). There has to be a lot of trust and care and support otherwise these groups don’t work, and people often share Big Stuff because of it (and because they need it!). It helps consistently reinforce the strong links
It was also interesting to read your perspective as a woman. If a man had been in a similar state to the girl and approached me, I would not have had the same reaction!
Very interesting concept for the friendship lottery!
I don’t know if this counts but when I was teaching abroad at a Canadian international school I’m a small town in China, it felt like a strong link society. There were only about 30 of us surrounded by friendly but isolated Chinese who didn’t speak English. As a result our staff got very close - dining together, living together, working together, travelling together, sleeping together... in short, doing everything together.
I’m trying to think of some other strong link societies and I think Indian small towns would fit (perhaps not the large cities). The small farming communities seem quite close from now my partner (who is South Indian) describes them and from what I see in South Indian media.
What a peculiar yet sweet occurrence! I imagine it's tough and isolating still with the pandemic, so I can empathize for her need for a hug. A thought-provoking essay. I'm not sure about strong link societies. BUT having learned a bit more about the French Foreign Legion, I imagine they're strong-link brothers in arms. In fact, if you have Ukrainians and Russians fighting together in the French Foreign Legion, they have to forget about what is happening in the outside world and become each other's brothers, they're responsible for each other now, no one else.
Seems to be a strong link situation when one is in a sit-down restaurant, which seems absurd, like how in-group/out-group studies highlight the absurdity of arbitrarily assigned groups. Other diners and staff are felt to be of no threat.
Anything better than being seen with apathy in any town of apathetic people just greeting themselves as if the wide world ended at the border of their apathetic mutual friendship. Sorry, it’s my better description. Regardless tourists, who belong to their own universe of nothingness
I think that the strong-link/weak-link dichotomy also depends on the situation helping to open people up. It's a lot easier to form strong links with a hard-charging project team than people who happen to share an office. Hardship, selection, and compatibility all play a part in forming true friends.
With this in mind, the Friendship Lottery is a great idea. Two people who read the same newsletter and "lucky" enough to go through the "hardship" of meeting a new person are definitely going to end up forming a connection!
Strong links are formed in extreme conditions. I was drafted for 15 months in the German Military. You form strong links out of necessity sharing a tiny living space. Stronger than any links formed in the 17 years at that AAA gaming company here in France, albeit, there have been some strong links formed as well. Links that transcend religion, language or culture. A different kind of "tribal" link.
This is so interesting and had given me loads to think about.
This story really shed some insight into what makes you, you. Enjoyed it a lot.
I played a game last year called Pentiment that was very much a strong link society. It took place in a Dutchy in Bavaria in the 16th century. But generally, abbeys in those days were very close knit.
This is less of a happy one, but something that comes to mind are support groups and/or trauma-bonded communities (particularly if the groups are static and don’t have a lot of turnover or comings and goings). There has to be a lot of trust and care and support otherwise these groups don’t work, and people often share Big Stuff because of it (and because they need it!). It helps consistently reinforce the strong links
It was also interesting to read your perspective as a woman. If a man had been in a similar state to the girl and approached me, I would not have had the same reaction!
Strong-link society: Bali.
Very interesting concept for the friendship lottery!
I don’t know if this counts but when I was teaching abroad at a Canadian international school I’m a small town in China, it felt like a strong link society. There were only about 30 of us surrounded by friendly but isolated Chinese who didn’t speak English. As a result our staff got very close - dining together, living together, working together, travelling together, sleeping together... in short, doing everything together.
I’m trying to think of some other strong link societies and I think Indian small towns would fit (perhaps not the large cities). The small farming communities seem quite close from now my partner (who is South Indian) describes them and from what I see in South Indian media.
What a peculiar yet sweet occurrence! I imagine it's tough and isolating still with the pandemic, so I can empathize for her need for a hug. A thought-provoking essay. I'm not sure about strong link societies. BUT having learned a bit more about the French Foreign Legion, I imagine they're strong-link brothers in arms. In fact, if you have Ukrainians and Russians fighting together in the French Foreign Legion, they have to forget about what is happening in the outside world and become each other's brothers, they're responsible for each other now, no one else.
Seems to be a strong link situation when one is in a sit-down restaurant, which seems absurd, like how in-group/out-group studies highlight the absurdity of arbitrarily assigned groups. Other diners and staff are felt to be of no threat.
Love the idea of lottery, btw.
Anything better than being seen with apathy in any town of apathetic people just greeting themselves as if the wide world ended at the border of their apathetic mutual friendship. Sorry, it’s my better description. Regardless tourists, who belong to their own universe of nothingness
I think that the strong-link/weak-link dichotomy also depends on the situation helping to open people up. It's a lot easier to form strong links with a hard-charging project team than people who happen to share an office. Hardship, selection, and compatibility all play a part in forming true friends.
With this in mind, the Friendship Lottery is a great idea. Two people who read the same newsletter and "lucky" enough to go through the "hardship" of meeting a new person are definitely going to end up forming a connection!